Monthly Newsletter
"Did You Know"
February 2012 Delaware National Guard Retired Officers Association
Contact Brig Gen (DE Ret) Kennard Wiggins, Kennard.Wiggins@gmail.com, 410-398-
0742, www.DNGROA.org
Calendar of Upcoming Events
Brig Gen Merritt's retirement celebration on 3 Feb
LTC Carl Johnson Retirement Sports Zone Smyrna 4 Feb
Tuskegee Airmen lecture by Brig Gen Ernie Talbert, Delaware Archives Dover Feb. 4,
2012
ANG Retirees Luncheon, February 8, Michaels
Warrant Officers Installation & Recognition Luncheon, Feb. 18
DNG Prayer Breakfast - Feb. 21
Delaware Military Ball April 28, 2012, Dover Downs
Delaware Military History On Line Weekend Fort DuPont October 20, 2012
TAPS
William M. Hall passed away on January 1st, 2012 at his home surrounded by
family. William Hall served with the 198th Signal Battalion, Delaware
National Guard, Newport Gap Pike for 7 years and was honorably discharged as
a Staff Sergeant.
It is with a great deal of sorrow that I join all the members of our Delaware
National Guard in expressing our condolences and sincere sympathy on the
passing of our friend and colleague, SMSgt (Ret) Victor W. Macy, on January
16.
SMSgt Macy retired from the 166th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
in July 1988 after nearly 36 years of military service. He was a patriotic
American who served his country, state, and community willingly and without
reservation. His death is a loss to all of us in our Delaware National Guard,
and our thoughts and prayers are with his entire family.
Francis D. Vavala
Major General
The Adjutant General, Delaware
It is with a great deal of sorrow that I join all the members of our Delaware
National Guard in expressing our condolences and sincere sympathy on the
passing of our friend and colleague, SGM (Ret) Francis J. Payton, on January
23.
SGM Payton retired from the DEARNG Recruiting and Retention Force in February 1998
after more than 41 years of service. He was a patriotic American who served his country,
state, and community willingly and without reservation.
His death is a loss to all of us in our Delaware National Guard, and our
thoughts and prayers are with his wife Philomena and his entire family.
Francis D. Vavala
Major General
The Adjutant General, Delaware
Free Presentation "The Tuskegee Airmen"
When: Saturday, February 4, 2012, 1030 AM
Where: Delaware Public Archives - 121 Duke of York Street - Dover, DE 19901 -archives.
delaware.gov
Presenter: Brigadier General Ernest George Talbert (Retired, USAF)
From 1941 to 1946, in the midst of World War II, a question was raised and answered
conclusively in a noble experiment that later became known as the “Tuskegee
Experience.” The Tuskegee Airmen, our nation’s first African-American military
aviators, are remembered in a presentation designed to tell their story and reveal the
significance of their achievements. Their story is prefaced by the achievements of other
African-American warriors and civilian aviators who preceded the “Tuskegee
Experience.”
These programs are free to the public and no reservations are required unless otherwise
noted. The Delaware Public Archives is located at 121 Duke of York Street in Dover,
Delaware. For more information contact Tom Summers (302) 744-5047 or e-mail
thomas.summers@state.de.us.
Countdown to Military Ball
"Countdown is on for the Military Ball to take place at Dover Downs on April
28th, 2012! 3 months! Yes, 3 months! We are delighted to announce the Love
Jones Band will be playing and all of you out there get to vote on the play
list!! Visit the website lovejonesband.net and check out the 165 songs listed
on the TUNES page. Participants get to vote on 35 songs and the top 35 songs
will be played at the Military Ball! The voting system is still to be
developed but will be announced soon, so check the song list and get a head
start on what to vote for!!
As a reminder, a new feature is the priority seating/theme table. Five table
are available for a group of 10 individuals at a cost of $100 ($10 extra a
person). You receive priority on choosing location of the table and the
option to decorate your table!!! Great way to show support!
As always; Thank you and we look forward to seeing you all there!!
Brandie L. Yankush, TSgt, DEANG
166 Logistic Readiness Squadron FB6081
DSN: 445-7488 COMM: 302-323-3488
Veterans Receive COLA Increase
Veterans, their families, and survivors receiving benefits from the Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) began receiving a 3.6 percent increase in their compensation and pension
benefits on January 1. The cost of living adjustments (COLAs) also apply to disability
and death pension recipients, survivors receiving Dependency and Indemnity
Compensation, disabled Veterans receiving automobile and clothing allowances, and
other benefits. The full rates are available on the Internet at www.vba.va.
gov/bln/21/Rates/#BM01. For more information about VA benefits or new 2012 payment
rates, visit Military.com or call 1-800-827-1000.
Benefit Calculator: Benefits in One Place
The Military.com Benefit Calculator is designed to quickly and easily connect you with
your benefits information based on service and status. Find Federal Benefits, State
Benefits, National Guad State Benefits, Special Military Discounts and More. Find Your
Benefits Now.
Visit the Military.com Benefit Channel to access Pay Charts, TRICARE information,
BAH, Survivor Benefits, Vet Benefits and More.
TRICARE Troubles Loom
TRICARE Prime fees and access to military and civilian care providers.
Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta gave a sneak peak at the DoD's proposed FY2013
budget and his long term plan to reduce defense spending by approximately $259 billion
over the next five years. The proposed budget includes a plan to tier enrollment fees
based on a retiree's rank. In addition, TRICARE Doctors face a 27 percent cut in
TRICARE payment rates this year. As a result, many doctors are considering limiting the
number of TRICARE patients they serve.
Retiree Health Care in Pentagon Sights
The Defense Department budget released last week would increase TRICARE enrollment
and co-payments for working age retirees under the age of 65.
The increase would be phased in over five years. No details were given during the press
conference Thursday at the Pentagon and none are in the budget.
“We’ve avoided changes that negatively impact active-duty troops or their families,”
Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said. “But we decided that to help control the growth
of health care costs, which is now almost $50 billion in this department, we are
recommending increases in health care fees, co-pays and deductibles for retirees.
“But let me be clear that even after these increases, the cost borne by military retirees will
remain below levels in most comparable private-sector plans, as they should be.”
Veterans groups are not happy. Stars and Stripes quoted spokesmen for two national
veterans groups in a story this week.
“Our charge, and our pushback to that proposal, is that we’re asking Congress and
asking DoD to look for other efficiencies and other ways to save that money,” said Tim
Tetz, American Legion legislative director.
Joe Davis, public affairs director for Veterans of Foreign Wars in Washington, D.C., said,
“Increasing enrollment fees and co-payments while reducing services is a breach of faith
with all military retirees.”
National Guard Earns Seat at Joint Chiefs Table
Military.com by Michael Hoffman
The chief of the National Guard Bureau joined the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Dec.
31, to formally sit alongside the four service chiefs for the first time in the Guard's
history. The change became official when President Barack Obama signed the Defense
Authorization Act, which included a provision institutionalizing the Guard's seat.
Air Force Gen. Craig McKinley, chief of the National Guard Bureau, joins the Joint
Chiefs of Staff chaired by Army Gen. Martin Dempsey at a critical time for the Guard and
the military at large.
The Pentagon could lose as much as $1 trillion in planned budget growth over the next
decade. A formal seat at the Joint Chiefs of Staff table gives the Guard a direct voice to the
chairman, and thus the president, as Defense Department leadership decides what
programs to cut to meet the shrinking budget.
Although the chief of the Guard Bureau has been invited to Joint Chiefs meetings for
years, Guard leaders have lobbied for a position guaranteed by law. The commandant of
the Coast Guard also attends Joint Chiefs meetings at the invitation of the chairman, but
is not a member or legally entitled to a seat.
McKinley will take his place at an exceptional time for the Guard, coming off ten years in
which the Pentagon depended on Guardsmen to fulfill multiple deployments in Iraq and
Afghanistan.
Congress added the Guard chief to the Joint Chiefs despite outspoken opposition from
Dempsey and each one of the other active duty leaders. Dempsey and his colleagues said
they worried it would cause "confusion" and perception problems to formally elevate the
Guard Bureau boss to their level. But lawmakers overruled them and Obama concurred.
"We are grateful for the efforts the executive and legislative bodies have gone to in
placing the chief of the National Guard Bureau on the Joint Chiefs of Staff," McKinley
said in a statement.
The four-star added that he looked forward to working with his fellow joint chiefs --
even though each officer told Congress not to follow through with the provision.
"We look forward to working alongside the other Joint Chiefs to provide our nation's
senior leaders with a fuller picture of the non-federalized National Guard as it serves in
support of homeland defense and civil support missions," McKinley said.
Guard generals hailed the addition of the chief to the Joint Chiefs of Staff as the most
historic piece of Guard legislation in more than a century.
"Not since the Militia Act of 1903 created the modern, dual-mission National Guard have
we seen approval of legislation that could have such a significant positive impact on our
force," said retired Maj. Gen. Gus L. Hargett Jr., president of the National Guard
Association of the United States, in December after legislation for the move was first
passed.
Tensions between Guard and active duty leaders have grown since Dempsey announced
at the National Guard's Joint Senior Leadership Conference in November that he would
tell Congress he opposed adding the top Guardsman to the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Dempsey explained that he didn't see the value in expanding members beyond the service
chiefs. He also said the chief of the National Guard Bureau didn't have authority over a
budget as the four service chiefs do.
However, Dempsey finished his explanation by saying he would support the move if
Congress passed the provision, seemingly resigned to the fact it would be passed.
"But you know, at the end of the day, when the Congress of the United States passes a
law, we have the uncanny ability to follow it," Dempsey said in November.
Guard leaders said that although they respected Dempsey's decision to announce his
position to the senior leadership conference first, many saw it as a power play by the
active duty to keep the Guard outside of budget discussions.
Dempsey further upset Guard officials when he questioned the level of the Guard's
readiness following a question from the crowd. Adjutants general pointed to the past ten
years as proof the Guard will meet any deployment deadline set forth by Pentagon
leaders.
"The Guard has never failed to meet a mission to meet a wartime contingency. I get a
little frustrated about that," said Maj. Gen. H. Michael Edwards, Colorado's adjutant
general.
Defense analysts also expect a messy dispute within the Air Force as the service's active
duty and reserve components fight over future aircraft and missions in light of the
coming budget cuts. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz has promised he will
provide unprecedented levels of access to budget discussions to Guard leaders, but many
Guard generals still worry.
Adding McKinley to the Joint Chiefs may allow the Air Guard leadership to inject its
arguments to keep missions and aircraft in the Guard, delivered straight from a
Guardsman's mouth.
Walgreens no longer a TRICARE pharmacy provider
FALLS CHURCH, Va. – The expiration of the retail pharmacy contract between Express
Scripts, Inc. and the Walgreens pharmacy chain means Walgreens is no longer a
TRICARE pharmacy network provider as of Jan. 1.
“The majority of beneficiaries have access to another network pharmacy very close to
home as our pharmacy contract requires ESI to maintain high-access standards,” said
Rear Adm. Thomas McGinnis, chief of the TRICARE Pharmaceutical Operations
Directorate. “There are still 56,000 network pharmacies nationwide -- easily meeting or
exceeding our access requirements.”
Besides 56,000 network pharmacies, TRICARE beneficiaries have other pharmacy options
including military pharmacies at no cost and TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery.
Generic medications are available at no cost through Home Delivery.
Beneficiaries who use non-network pharmacies, including Walgreens, pay full
prescription costs upfront and submit their own claims for reimbursement.
Reimbursement will occur only after the non-network deductible is met. Out-of-network
costs include a 50 percent point-of-service cost share for TRICARE Prime, after
deductibles are met. All other non-active duty TRICARE beneficiaries pay the greater
amount of a $12 co-pay or 20 percent of the total cost for formulary medications, and the
greater of $25 or 20 percent of the total cost for non-formulary medications, after
deductibles are met.
For more on pharmacy costs, visit www.tricare.mil/pharmacycosts [ http://www.tricare.
mil/pharmacycosts ].
Social Security Column
DON’T WAIT SIX WEEKS! GO ONLINE TODAY
By Vanessa Davis
Social Security Manager in Elkton, MD
Soon, the world’s most famous groundhog will be getting a lot of attention. On
Groundhog Day, the world’s furriest weather reporter, Punxsutawney Phil, will pop
out of his home to forecast one of two possibilities: an early spring or six more weeks of
winter.
Regardless of what Punxsutawney Phil predicts, there’s no reason for you to wait six
weeks to do business with Social Security. Whatever the weather, you can visit our
online office from the convenience and comfort of your warm and cozy home or office.
Just go to www.socialsecurity.gov.
You can do so many things online. And it’s so easy, even a groundhog could do it … if
eligible. Below are a few of the things you can do at www.socialsecurity.gov.
• Get an instant, personalized estimate of future retirement benefits with the
Retirement Estimator at www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator;
• Apply for Social Security retirement, spouse’s, or disability benefits at www.
socialsecurity.gov/applyonline;
• Apply for Medicare at www.socialsecurity.gov/medicareonly;
• Request a replacement Medicare card at www.socialsecurity.gov/medicarecard/, and
• Learn about Extra Help with Medicare prescription drug costs at www.
socialsecurity.gov/prescriptionhelp, where you can find a link to apply.
Punxsutawney Phil has called for six more weeks of winter 87 percent of the time. We
suspect that’s because he just likes to stay in his comfortable home. You can too, on
Groundhog Day or any day, by going online.
Whatever the weather, learn all about the things you can do online at www.
socialsecurity.gov/onlineservices.
Space A on Facebook
Select passenger terminals across Air Mobility Command are establishing Facebook pages
to provide passengers more predictability when it comes to space-available and -required
passengers. Travelers will also be able to the see their local terminals tentative flight
schedule 72-hours in advance. The same information available via the local terminal's
answering machine will also be posted on the passenger terminal's Facebook page. For a
complete list of AMC Passenger Terminals who have a Facebook page, please visit the
Space-A Website at www.amc.af.mil/amctravel .
Budget Cuts Could Spark Showdown for AF, Guard and Reserves
Military.com by Michael Hoffman
A rift is appearing to form between the Air Force's reserve and active components, with
leaders pointing fingers from both sides.
One central venue for this new split will likely be the Air Force's review of the roles and
missions that belong in the active component, Reserves and Guard as part of the larger
Defense Department-wide effort ordered by President Barack Obama's new defense
strategy.
"Given the reality of fiscal austerity ahead, the need for maximum efficiency in the Air
Force is clear. To this end, the Air Force remains committed to a 'total force' approach,
because any solution will be, by necessity, a total force solution. Air Force restructuring
will occur across the total force, consistent with future trends and potential threats, our
collective priorities, our national security strategy, and our collective capabilities," said
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz.
Guard sources say their units stand to lose the most, since the Reserve component has
traditionally borne the brunt of budget cuts in the past. Guard leaders also worry that
service officials did not add enough Guard representatives to the force mix study panel.
Schwartz insisted that no such rift exists between the active duty, Reserves and Guard,
saying he's worked closely with Guard leaders during this process.
"Communication is critical if we are to achieve the 'win-win' outcomes that we all desire.
That is why I'm working closely with [National Guard Bureau Chief] Craig McKinley,
[Air National Guard Director Lt. Gen.] Bud Wyatt and [Air Force Reserve Chief Lt. Gen.]
Charlie Stenner, and why state adjutants general are gaining direct and personal access
to Air Force Council deliberations, all to ensure transparency and sound senior leader
discussions on active, Reserve and Guard force structure, manning, and institutional
support," Schwartz said.
To be sure, Schwartz said he knows his service must find new ways to save money or
face further cuts to his aircraft fleet, possibly forcing the service to reduce the number of
missions it can perform.
The Air Force could lose about 5 percent of its fleet as service leaders contemplate retiring
as many as 200 aircraft without replacement under forthcoming budget reductions. This
doesn't even account for a potential 30 percent reduction of the fighter fleet that could be
needed to defray the increased operational costs of the new F-35 Lightning II.
The Air Force's potential budget and mission squeeze could be even more frustrating for
service officials given the Obama administration's plans to depend more on the Air Force
and Navy to provide the power projection necessary to emphasize the American presence
in the Western Pacific.
Ten years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan -- in which the nation has depended on its
reservists and National Guardsmen -- has further complicated the debate between the
active and reserve components. Reserve and Guard leaders contend their units have
proven they can absorb more missions.
"Currency of equipment and level of training is pretty good for the Reserves and Guard
right now. So in that respect, they are well postured to make a good contribution to the
ongoing missions," said Albert Robbert, a RAND Corp. senior policy researcher who
directed RAND's Project Air Force from 2004 to 2011.
The Guard's wartime success, combined with data the Guard says show its units could
execute missions and fly planes cheaper and more efficiently than the active side, has left
many Guard leaders frustrated.
Of course, arguments go both ways. Some analysts, including Robbert, said the active
duty saves the Air Force more money in extended engagements like the one the U.S. has
fought in Iraq and Afghanistan. Both wars are scheduled to wind down, but the specter
of potential conflicts with China, and to a lesser degree, Iran, also loom over the defense
strategy debate.
"It's pretty clear to me in most systems you'd be better off with a smaller fleet, with all of
it in the active force to meet ongoing requirements. But that might not necessarily
provide a large enough fleet to meet the surge demand. You have this tension between
meeting the ongoing requirements with meeting this surge demand that may or may not
ever occur," Robbert said.
An Air Force major who flies F-16s for the Wisconsin Guard has built a presentation
called the "Buzz Brief," which argues the Air Force stands to save billions of dollars and
hundreds of aircraft if it transferred more missions, especially fighter aircraft, to the
Guard.
Maj. Joseph Walter, whose call sign is Buzz, has had his brief delivered to Schwartz and
House Armed Service Committee Chairman Rep. Buck McKeon. Walter said Schwartz
showed sincere interest. McKeon, a California Republican, also showed support and said
he wanted the brief delivered to Air Force Undersecretary Erin Conaton.
Walter lays out cost savings found in Guard training, basing, pilot experience and force
structure that makes the case to move more missions out of the active component. He
uses the future fighter fleet as an example of how moving more fifth-generation fighters
to the Guard than planned, and keeping more legacy aircraft such as the F-16 in service,
would save money for the Air Force.
The Air Force plans to replace its A-10s and F-16s with F-35s. It's projected to spend $1.2
billion more per year to fly the F-35 fleet once it replaces the cheaper fighters. And that's
not accounting for the estimated $120 million price tag the Air Force must pay for each F-
35.
Service officials may need to get creative to meet operations and maintenance costs as
defense budgets grow by much smaller amounts than once predicted.
In this budget environment, it may not make sense to move aircraft and missions out of
Guard units that have, on average, more experienced pilots compared to active-duty
squadrons. According to official statistics, about 95 percent of Guard squadrons have
pilots with more than 500 flying hours -- the threshold for someone considered an
"experienced" pilot.
Conversely, only 55 percent of active-duty squadrons have pilots with more than 500
flight hours in their aircraft.
Guard units also send fewer pilots to formal training units because, on average, they
stay in the service longer and don't need to fill non-flying billets as often as active-duty
pilots.
Active-duty leaders argue the Air Force needs pilots to fill those non-flying billets to help
run the service. An Air Force officer working in the Pentagon on the force mix panel
conceded to Military.com that it does cost more to move pilots around the service and the
Guard's model would be cheaper, but said the Air Force ultimately benefits from pilots'
experience even when they're not flying.
Walter, author of the "Buzz Brief," said he has heard the active duty's explanation and
understands it, but contends that moving more missions to Guard units would allow
the Air Force to operate more planes and thus have more pilots in the Guard and on
active duty. He's also not convinced pilots need to fill as many staff jobs as the Air Force
currently has assigned.
That's not to mention how Guard pilots need fewer flight hours per month. The average
F-16 Guard pilot flies six sorties per month, versus the nine to 10 sorties an active-duty
pilot flies. Fewer flight hours per month mean the aircraft, especially the pricey fifth-
generation aircraft, will last longer and save money on procurement costs.
Maintaining flight hours for active-duty pilots has become a challenge for the Air Force
as its fleet has shrunk. Active-duty pilots and maintainers are even being assigned to
Guard units so they can fly and build up hours.
Walter said he thought closing Guard units to save short-term cash would be foolish
because the experience built up in those units would be expensive to reassemble. The
Pentagon's new defense strategy values what is called "reversibility," or the ability to
surge in case of a high-level military engagement with a military like China or Iran.
"It doesn't make sense to close a Guard unit where 95 percent of the pilots are
experienced," Walter said. "Cutting the active-duty unit would save money in the long
run. Our leaders just need to look at the numbers."
Air Guard Boss Pushes Back on Cuts
Military.com by Michael Hoffman
The Air National Guard's top officer took aim at Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton
Schwartz Tuesday, questioning why the service chief protected active duty resources and
targeted Guard units in the service's latest round of budget cuts.
Lt. Gen. Harry Wyatt, the Air National Guard director, expressed his frustration with
Air Force leadership during a panel discussion with the military's Guard and Reserve
chiefs at the Reserve Officers Association National Security Symposium in Washington.
"Chief said we are going to do this in a ‘balanced' fashion. It will be interesting to see on
the 13th of this month the practical implications of what ‘balanced' means," Wyatt said,
followed by cheers from the crowd.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced on Jan. 26 the Air Force would "divest" its C-
27J cargo planes, many of which had been bound for Guard units, and close seven
squadrons. Joint Chiefs Vice Chairman Adm. James Winnefeld confirmed that four of the
seven cut would be Air National Guard squadrons.
The Defense Department will send its defense budget to Congress Feb. 13. It is expected to
include the entire layout of what the military will cut to account for the $259 billion
reduction in planned defense spending growth over the next five years.
Schwartz has said he remains committed to the Air Force's Guard and Reserve as part of
the service's "total force" concept, despite the budget reductions.
"Given the reality of fiscal austerity ahead, the need for maximum efficiency in the Air
Force is clear. To this end, the Air Force remains committed to a 'total force' approach,
because any solution will be, by necessity, a total force solution. Air Force restructuring
will occur across the total force, consistent with future trends and potential threats, our
collective priorities, our national security strategy, and our collective capabilities,"
Schwartz said in December.
Anticipating that the Guard would bear the brunt of the Air Force's budget cut, Wyatt
parsed his words, but made sure to drive home his point that the Guard was upset with
which units and aircraft the Air Force plans to retire.
"I think there are different interpretations of what ‘balanced' really means and I think we
are going to get the opportunity to see what ‘balanced' means in shaping the Air Force
of the future," Wyatt said Tuesday.
The Guard expects the Air Force to order the decommissioning of three of its A-10
Warthog squadrons in Indiana, Arkansas and Michigan, as well as an F-16 squadron in
Iowa, according to Guard sources who asked not to be named because the Air Force had
not yet made the official force structure announcement.
The three A-10 Guard squadrons set to close -- the 107th, 163rd and 184th Fighter
Squadrons -- recently transitioned from F-16 squadrons as part of the congressionally
mandated Base Realignment and Closure process.
Some airmen from those Warthog squadrons, as well as the 124th Fighter Squadron,
which Guard officials said also appears vulnerable, will transition to other missions,
such as flying MQ-9 Reapers, Schwartz said Jan. 27.
Retiring three Guard A-10 squadrons will cut the Guard's A-10 fleet in half from 108
aircraft to 54. Wyatt questioned whether retiring Guard squadrons lined up with the
new defense strategy that emphasizes "reversibility" -- or the ability to easily undo
changes made amid the budget growth reductions.
Meanwhile, Wyatt's counterpart on the Army side praised Army leadership for its
continued commitment to the Army Guard and Reserve. Army Reserve Chief Lt. Gen.
Jack Stultz hinted during the panel that he doesn't expect the Reserve to absorb major
cuts when the defense budget is released Feb. 13.
Air Guard leaders saw these cuts coming. Adjutants general in Colorado and Texas both
commended the Army for how it handled its reserve component, while predicting the Air
Force would target the Guard and protect its active component in retiring aircraft and
units.
When approached after the panel and asked if he'd like to further explain his pointed
critique over Schwartz's definition of "balance," Wyatt said he couldn't say more until
Feb. 13.
"Just wait until the [president's budget] comes out and then you'll know exactly what I
am talking about," Wyatt said.
Hueys Retire From Service at NTC
Army News Service|by Gustavo Bahena
Saying goodbye is sometimes hard, but at this farewell ceremony the mood was upbeat
among the attendees reuniting one more time to bid adieu.
The National Training Center held a retirement ceremony Dec. 13 for several UH-1 Huey
helicopters it had been using since 1980, and on hand to witness the occasion were
command staff and military veterans. Those veterans looked on with pride at the aircraft,
which became a United States Army aviation icon after seeing service over the highlands
of Vietnam in the 1960s.
The UH-1 Huey came into production in 1960, and eventually more than 16,000 were
built around the world. The U.S. Army used the workhorse in Vietnam beginning in
May 1962, said Chief Warrant Officer 5 John Harris, a Huey instructor pilot with
Aviation Company at the NTC. Harris said that in Vietnam, the UH-1 ultimately flew 15
million sorties while conducting troop transport, medical evacuations, emergency re-
supplies, and armed attacks.
Hueys made their appearance at the NTC shortly after the training center was
established. They have been part of the rotations conducted at the NTC for units
training to fight Cold War adversaries and most recently, the wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan.
"Since 1980, these UH-1s have supported the training of thousands of Soldiers that have
passed through the National Training Center on rotation preparing our nation's war
fighters for their next mission," said Capt. Aaron Pluto, commander of B Company,
2916th Aviation Battalion, which housed some of the last active-duty Hueys.
Pluto said that the Huey provided general support and distinguished visitor support.
The attack mission of the Huey at the NTC was unique: the Huey was an aviation
element that became the most visible and feared air presence on the NTC training
battlefield, Pluto said.
The three UH-1s retired that day were sent to be re-furbished at Ozark, Alabama and will
be used by the Air Force. There remains only one active duty unit in U.S. Army Forces
Command that has UH-1 helicopters.
The Huey proved to be a trendsetter of aviation service for the military. The Huey paved
the way for Army aviation to progress from that of a secondary service support asset to
the full-spectrum, force multiplier of combat arms that Army aviation is today, Harris
said.
Harris spoke nostalgically of the rotor craft he has flown since the early 1970s in
Vietnam. "To those who rode her into combat, many of which are here today, the sound
of those blades causes our hearts to beat and rise and our breaths to quicken, in
anticipation of seeing that beautiful machine fly overhead and the feeling of comfort that
she brings," Harris said. "When a Huey flies over, everyone looks up and everyone
knows who she is, young or old, all over the world, she connects with them all."
History Corner
This year marks the Bicentennial of the War of 1812. The Delaware Militia played an
important role in defending Delaware from the last example of foreign invasion in our
area. If you‘d like to know more about this little known history see: http://www.
militaryheritage.org/DARNG1812.html
Some Important Links:
Delaware National Guard: http://delawarenationalguard.com/
Delaware Air National Guard http://www.166aw.ang.af.mil/
Delaware Military History: http://www.militaryheritage.org/
Delaware Military Heritage and Education Foundation: www.demilitaryheritage.org.
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/166thAirliftWing
Joint Services Support - This portal, and its program sub-portals, is designed to give you
a “one stop shopping” location where you can get important information on a variety of
programs that have been created to support you - http://www.jointservicessupport.org
Military One Source - whether its help with child care, personal finances, emotional
support during deployments, relocation information, or resources needed for special
circumstances, Military OneSource is there for military personnel and their families...
24/7/365! - https://www.militaryonesource.com/skins/MOS/home.aspx
Military HOMEFRONT - is the official Department of Defense web site for reliable Quality
of Life information designed to help troops and their families, leaders and service
providers. Whether you live the military lifestyle or support those who do, you'll find
what you need! - http://www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil/ <http://www.
militaryhomefront.dod.mil/>
Turbo Tap - is Department of Defense's official website providing information for
servicemembers on transitioning from military service. This site is also supported by the
Departments of Labor and Veterans Affairs. TurboTAP.org is intended to supplement
the services offered by the Transition Assistance Offices and other groups. - http://www.
turbotap.org
A Caution About Drinking and Driving this Holiday Season
I would like to share a personal experience with you all, about drinking and driving. As
you well know, some of us have been known to have had brushes with the authorities
on our way home from the odd social session over the years.
A couple of nights ago, I was out for a few drinks with some friends and had a few too
many cocktails and some rather nice claret. Knowing full well I may have been slightly
over the limit, I did something I've never done before - I took a bus home.
I arrived home safely and without incident, which was a real surprise,
as I have never driven a bus before and am not sure where I got this one.
(Thanks to Sid Shaw for contributing this funny).
Let us hear from you.
Your comments, contributions, complaints and praises are welcome. We’d like to know
how we can improve this newsletter. But we’d really like to know what our members
are up to. If you have a milestone to report we’d like to share it. Please contact us at:
Kennard.Wiggins@gmail.com, or call me at (410) 398-0742. You can also write to me at
504 Blacksnake Road, Elkton MD 21921. Ken Wiggins, Scribe.
Delaware National Guard Retired Officers Association
306 Weiner Avenue, Harrington Delaware 19952-1141
COL (Ret) James Testerman, President, jteste6847@aol.
com BG (Ret) Elliott Workman, Vice
President LTG (Ret) Douglas Boyce,
Treasurer Lt Col David L. Cook,
Secretary Col Ernest A. Schwab, ANG
Representative
Brig Gen Kennard Wiggins, Scribe, kennard.wiggins@gmail.com
Delaware National Guard Retired Officers Association |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |